#unistellar

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Still learning how to use my Unistellar telescope (it has a digital sensor with built-in stacking). A few highlights:

Clouds on the horizon meant no comet, and I don't think the northern lights got down to southern California today, although that was an awfully pink sky just after sunset (traffic from Orange County was horrendous so I only got to the cabin at seven). but there's always something to see, even if you have to restrict your viewing to dark patches overhead..

[aarrowom]

Some quickie test shots before the April eclipse.

[twincitiesgeek]

Star Trek's Tim Russ Brings a Life of Stargazing to NASA's Lucy Mission

Star Trek: Voyager actor and citizen astronomer Tim Russ talked to Twin Cities Geek about contributing to NASA's upcoming Lucy mission.

Tim Russ is best known for his portrayal of the Vulcan security officer Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager, or for literally combing the desert in Spaceballs. And while many of us geeks continue to recognize him for these roles, he is also a longtime musician and an Emmy Award–winning director, and he’s now making waves for his contributions to NASA as a citizen astronomer. Recently, Russ helped NASA in…

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I went out to a little "glamping" bungalow near Joshua Tree last night to try my new telescope under clear skies.

Smoke from wildfires, light glow from the gibbous moon, and collimation troubles mean these images are still not the best I think I can coax out of this beastie. but I am pleased.

I'm leaving the optional timestamp on each of these images, since the telescope will label what they are ("M8 Lagoon Nebula", eg.) The time in minutes is the exposure length. These are all visible wavelengths, btw— no filters, infrared, etc.

Here are several nebulae (yes, that's the Trifid Nebula), a couple of globular star clusters, a beautiful galaxy drawing in a friend, and a deep sky comet that is getting hyped up although we can't be sure yet that it won't break apart as it loops around the particularly active Sun.

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April 8, 2024 totality highlight reel

snipped about a minute's worth of blackout from thick cloud cover hiding it

(Best seen in a dark room)

there's no image processing/filtering apart from the mylar filter capping my telescope until the disc of the Moon completely blocks the Sun.

During totality, I reached up and gingerly removed the filter, slipping it back on when the Sun's crescent reappeared.

The filter is necessary because lenses magnify infrared and UV as well as visible light like skyscrapers designed by Rafael Viñoly, making solar observing dangerous for both electronics and eyeballs.

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Clouds were horrendous in Vanderpool Texas, statistically least likely along the path of totality to have clouds on April 8. Ah, probability.

iphone clearest shot

telescope (complaining "Object not Found" 😅)

Sun not found you say? funny that

and totality was REALLY DARK with cloud cover hiding the twilight ring around the horizon. It was eerie and hushed.

The perfectly circular black hole punched in the sky is so jarringly unreal that it feels like it should pop the moss off tombstones.

[thedailyessentialgadget]

Check Price On Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oAwM9G

Explore the universe from your own backyard with the UNISTELLAR Equinox 2 Smart Telescope Bundle. This set includes the powerful Equinox 2 — a smart, app-controlled telescope that lets you observe galaxies, nebulae, and planets even under city lights — plus the Official Unistellar Backpack for safe and stylish transport. Perfect for modern explorers, astrophotography lovers, and science enthusiasts who want an effortless, connected stargazing experience. ✨ Smart. Portable. Revolutionary.

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Random photo of the Sun right now, since I haven't disassembled the telescope and its tripod since the lunar eclipse Friday

those larger sunspots are Earth-sized.

whee clouds (and light meter trying to keep up)

(Unistellar evscope-2)